Trump gives up joint military exercises with South Korea, gets nothing in return

The Donald Trump—Kim Jong-un meeting was the Kentucky Derby of political events. Months of build up. Minutes of action. And you may want to grab a mint julep, because there’s nothing that can “Justify” this one.

Simply having the meeting was a victory for Kim. It was “historic” in that it enormously boosted the status of the North Korean dictator. But Trump didn’t let Kim go home with just that participation trophy. Trump agreed to stop joint military exercises between the United States and South Korea. In exchange he got … zip. Also diddly and doo-dah. Not one thing that Kim had not already stated weeks before the meeting.

Trump walked away pouring out compliments for Kim. The same “little rocketman” who Trump had called a “madman” willing to starve his own people, he now says “loves his people.” Trump called Kim “very talented,” noting that the dictator “took it over at 26 years of age, and was able to run it. And run it tough.”

Additionally, Trump declared that he and Kim had developed a “very special bond” and that he trusted the North Korean leader. The agreement signed at the end of the meeting says that both sides are dedicated to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, but sets no actions, deadlines, guidelines, or suggestions to make that happen.

Why would Donald Trump surrender one of the biggest chips he has to play, for exactly nothing in exchange? According to the New York Times, Trump is looking to the future.

Trump: They have great beaches. You see that whenever they’re exploding their cannons into the ocean. I said, ‘Boy, look at that view. Wouldn’t that make a great condo? You could have the best hotels in the world right there. Think of it from a real estate perspective. You have South Korea, you have China and they own the land in the middle. How bad is that, right? It’s great.

Warning: This is not a cartoon. It was not lifted from the Onion. This is reality.